The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has recently made significant strides in supporting urban development and climate resilience in Asia. Two notable projects include a $200 million loan aimed at improving urban mobility in Nagpur, India, and a $50 million grant to foster a climate-friendly business environment in Tajikistan.

The new study by the EIB Group focuses on removing investment barriers and increasing public intervention in favour of innovative European scale-ups, i.e. companies between the start-up and the established company phase, in order to foster their growth and at the same time increase the EU's global technological competitiveness.

There is time until September 6 to participate in the public consultation launched by the European Commission to gather the views of relevant stakeholders on the Public Sector Loan Facility (PSLF), as part of the Just Transition Mechanism.

The DIGITAL SME Investment and Procurement Platform is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing the accessibility of funding and large enterprise clients for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups across Europe.

The recently released 2024 Africa Sustainable Development Report (ASDR) has underscored a critical message: without significant increases in development financing, Africa's progress towards sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the African Union's Agenda 2063 is at serious risk.

With the entry into force of the new Regulation 2024/1679 on the Union guidelines for the development of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), the intermediate objectives set for 2030, 2040, and 2050 are being realized. A unique opportunity to achieve them comes from the CEF Transport, the funding instrument that supports European transport infrastructure policy by financing large strategic investments in the sector. Let's see how.

A new “Clean Industrial Deal” within the first 100 days of the mandate to support the competitiveness of European businesses without compromising sustainability ambitions. Additionally, increased research spending, a new European Competitiveness Fund, Union of Savings and Investments, AI Factories, public procurement favoring European products, initiation of new IPCEIs, less bureaucracy, and risk absorption measures for venture capital. These are some of the main policy directions in economic development and competitiveness that will guide the new EU Commission over the next 5 years.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a substantial $240.5 million financing package to accelerate the deployment of rooftop solar systems across India. This initiative will support the Indian government's ambitious renewable energy targets and is in line with the Prime Minister's Surya Ghar programme, which aims to promote the widespread adoption of rooftop solar across the country.

According to a report by the European Court of Auditors, the EU has only partially succeeded in laying the foundations for the emerging renewable hydrogen market. Despite various positive actions taken by the European Commission, issues persist throughout the hydrogen value chain, and it is unlikely that the EU will meet its 2030 targets. The Court, therefore, urges a reassessment to ensure that the Union's goals are realistic and that strategic choices do not compromise the competitiveness of key industries or create new dependencies.

As part of the Horizon Europe program, two calls are active until the end of September to enhance cutting-edge research infrastructures, essential for the continuity of new knowledge production, technological development, and open science. Horizon Europe: incoming Mission Cities calls for proposals

The World Bank's latest Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) report for Africa has spotlighted best practices designed to bolster African businesses. This annual diagnostic tool evaluates the quality of policies and institutions in countries eligible for financing from the International Development Association (IDA), focusing on four key areas: economic management, structural policies, policies for social inclusion and equity, and public sector management and institutions.

As proof of the relevance of open innovation in the life sciences sector, the Knowledge and Innovation Community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) dedicated to health has launched a new program aimed at connecting the demand for innovation (private buyers of innovation and/or healthcare providers such as hospitals) with the supply (innovators such as startups or SMEs).

EIT Digital, one of the leading Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), has launched the "Disruptive AI" 2024 call with the aim of supporting innovative and disruptive artificial intelligence technologies. The call offers personalized training for the development and growth of innovative AI technologies.

On September 17, new Horizon Cluster 5 calls will open, dedicated to supporting research and innovation activities capable of making energy supplies secure, sustainable, and competitive by betting on renewable energies. In the 2024 calls, European funding mainly focuses on photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, biofuels/biochemicals/biomaterials, and CO2 removal systems.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $100 million policy-based loan to support and facilitate power sector reforms in Sri Lanka. The program aims to consolidate the electricity industry reforms implemented under the Electricity Act 2009 by unbundling the state-owned Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) into separate corporate entities for generation, transmission, and distribution. 

Following the calls for the development of four pilot lines for future chips, the Semiconductors Joint Undertaking (Chips Joint Undertaking) has recently launched the first tranche of a new round of calls for the development of semiconductors and microelectronics in Europe. These are two calls worth 120 million euros, which aim to create a network of Chips Competence Centres across Europe to facilitate access by SMEs and start-ups to the infrastructures funded by the Joint Undertaking, starting with the four pilot lines selected in recent months, one of which is planned in our country. Two other calls will follow in the coming weeks. Semiconductors: Chips Joint Undertaking launched

A new call for Mission Cities will be launched in mid-September. After selecting the 100 European cities that will serve as laboratories for experimenting with sustainable practices, the Mission continues its journey to support the EU's climate neutrality by focusing on cities, the world's main CO2 fronts. Nearly €100 million will be on the table, divided into four themes to fund research, development and innovation projects.

The World Bank and the United Nations Capital Development Fund published the interesting report "Local Governments Climate Finance Instruments: Global Experiences and Prospects in Developing Countries". Cities in developing countries are at the forefront of confronting and mitigating the impacts of climate change. 

The European Commission has approved the launch of the new EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) Knowledge and Innovation Community focused on water, marine, and maritime sectors and ecosystems. New calls for proposal coming soon.

The World Bank Group has launched a new Guarantee Platform that aims to revolutionize the landscape of development financing. The platform, housed at the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), brings together guarantee products and experts from across the World Bank Group institutions - the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and MIGA - to provide a simplified, efficient, and accessible one-stop-shop for clients.

The European Commission recently published its second annual report on the State of the Digital Decade, providing a comprehensive overview of the EU's progress towards its ambitious digital transformation goals for 2030.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation to outline the process of inception and development of the New European Bauhaus Facility for the biennium 2025-2027. There is time until September 17 to submit feedback.

Launched on June 28, 2024, the Futural Open Call offers €1.2 million to support the development and implementation of innovative Smart Solutions, empowering rural communities across Europe to address key challenges and unlock their full potential.

Under the Horizon Europe program, a new call has been launched to support projects aimed at enhancing tools within the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage. Here's everything you need to know about the tenders to implement the digital infrastructure connecting cultural heritage institutions and professionals across Europe.

The European Commission has announced the creation of a new Climate City Capital Hub, an international finance resource designed to support cities participating in climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is making a concerted effort to strengthen its partnerships with Japan in order to drive climate action and infrastructure development across the African continent.

The EU's decision-making bodies approved nearly €3 billion in funding decisions through the Modernisation Fund on 24 June 2024. Ten member states will receive a total of around €2.9 billion to make their energy systems cleaner and more efficient.

The European Commission has launched a call for funding to create an EU ecosystem of connected local digital twins (LDTs) that can simulate urban interventions and boost smart city services. As cities tackle complex challenges like climate change, sustainable development and improving citizen wellbeing, these virtual replicas are emerging as a powerful tool.

A new round of calls will open on July 4th as part of Digital Europe, the European funding program aimed at fostering the digital transition of the Union. A total budget exceeding 100 million euros is available.

The Governors of the European Investment Bank approved the EIB Group's Strategic Roadmap. The procedure for amending the Statute has also been launched to enhance the EIB's contribution to the integration of European capital markets. From climate action to cohesion policy, here are the eight strategic priorities of the EIB's roadmap for 2024-2027.

The Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) is part of the portfolio of partnerships launched by the European Commission under Horizon Europe, combining EU funding and private investment to address challenges in different sectors. The CETP 2024 call will be published in September, but a draft is already available to preview the content of the initiative.

The European Commission has unveiled plans for the first European Solar Academy, a flagship initiative to rapidly upskill workers across the solar energy value chain and drive the bloc's transition to clean energy sources. The academy aims to provide training to over 100,000 people annually by 2025 in key solar roles like panel installers, technical designers, and project managers.

The EU is funding innovative solutions to the dynamic challenges posed by crime and terrorism. Through Horizon Europe, the EU is expanding cutting-edge research and forums for collaboration and innovation, developing advanced solutions to enhance the security and resilience of communities across the continent.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Canada have announced a partnership to create a new trust fund, the Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for Private Sector in Asia (CANPA), aimed at supporting private sector projects in Asia and the Pacific focused on climate and nature-based solutions while accelerating gender equity.

The European Commission today presented its proposal for the EU budget for 2025. On the table is a budget of €199.7 billion, divided between different programmes and priorities, taking into account the mid-term review of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in February 2024. The budget will also be supplemented by around €72 billion in payments under the NextGenerationEU programme.

The European Union's LIFE programme empowers cities to drive the energy transition through the European City Facility, providing technical expertise and funding to turn municipal climate plans into sustainable investment projects.

The European Commission has endorsed a positive preliminary assessment of Greece's fourth payment request for €2.3 billion in loans under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). This significant milestone highlights Greece's progress in implementing reforms and investments outlined in its national recovery plan.

The 2024 European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) aimed to act as a catalyst, uniting policymakers, industry leaders, activists, and citizens in a shared vision of a sustainable energy future for Europe. Held from 11-13 June in Brussels, the event was a platform for collaboration and innovation, building momentum for charting a course towards the continent's ambitious climate goals.

The Ukraine Recovery Conference saw the EU take a major step in its commitment to support Ukraine's rebuilding efforts with new guarantee and grant deals worth €1.4 billion. Taking place on 11 June 2024 in Berlin, the agreements highlight the bloc's continued and unwavering support for Ukraine.

The EU aims to build its capabilities in security research and innovation through new calls under the Horizon Europe programme, The funding is aimed at boosting public-private collaboration and accelerating the path to market for cutting-edge technologies.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on draft amendments to the Agricultural de Minimis Regulation, which exempts small amounts of state aid from control. The consultation seeks feedback on proposed changes that aim to increase the maximum de minimis ceiling per company over three years from €25 000 to €37 000, adjust the national caps, introduce a mandatory central register of de minimis aid, and prolong the Regulation until 2032.

On 23 May 2024, the European Union took a significant step towards securing its access to critical raw materials (CRMs) with the entry into force of the Critical Raw Materials Act. This landmark legislation aims to ensure a diversified, secure, and sustainable supply of these essential resources, vital for Europe's industrial leadership in clean technologies, digitalisation, defence, and aerospace.

The Women TechEU initiative, funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe program, aims to empower and accelerate the growth of deep tech startups led by women. The program provides targeted funding, personalised business development support, and access to a network of mentors and experts.

The European call aimed at fostering international cooperation in the field of research and innovation will open on September 19, financing the exchanges of personnel involved in these activities. Here's who can participate in the Horizon call under the European Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) program.

The Horizon Europe programme is the European Union's flagship initiative for research and innovation. Recognising the immense value of cultural heritage, Horizon Europe has dedicated significant resources to supporting its digitisation and accessibility. One key initiative within this framework is the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage (ECCCH), a digital platform designed to connect and empower cultural heritage institutions, researchers, and professionals across Europe.

Aiming to accelerate the development of its hydrogen market, on 3 June 2024 the EU officially launched a pilot mechanism designed to increase transparency on supply and demand. The initiative will provide a clearer picture of the market situation and facilitate connections between suppliers and off-takers, both within the EU and internationally.

The Lisbon Energy Summit was the setting for a significant number of conferences, including one on how to mobilise private capital to invest rapidly in the green transition, where I stressed that most of the instruments already exist but need to be integrated and strengthened.

As part of its Horizon Europe research and innovation program, the Commission has launched several funding calls to support projects working on key internet commons and building blocks. These calls provide grants to independent researchers, developers and organisations across Europe to create powerful new open source technologies.

As the European Commission's landmark artificial intelligence regulations start taking shape with the launch of the new AI Office, the bloc continues its rapid pivot towards embracing the technology – with more than a few enduring questions as to what the AI endgame is going to look like.

The European Union has taken a major step in driving the transition to clean technologies with the approval of the ground-breaking Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA). After over a year of negotiations between the European Commission, Parliament and Council, the Act was given final approval on 27 May 2024.